A new cloud version of SAP's Afaria mobile device management software offers IT departments a more convenient way of controlling mobile devices.

As with its other cloud-based offerings, SAP hopes to attract enterprises to the cloud-based version of Afaria with improved installation speed and cost, compared to traditional software. Enterprises gain all the benefits and features of on-premise mobile device management without the capital expenses, the company said Tuesday at its Sapphire conference in Orlando.

Using the offering, IT departments can provision in-house apps and revoke privileges without limiting access to personal information. Employees can handle routine tasks such as configuring their smartphones and downloading enterprise apps, but if they make changes and become noncompliant with corporate policies, they are blocked from accessing enterprise resources.

Analytic dashboards from the BusinessObjects portfolio, which allows IT staff to keep track of device compliance and usage, are bundled with the package.

The software is now available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 for €1 (US$1.30) per month and device. For IT departments that want to try the product first, there is a 30-day free trial available.

The German company is far from alone in offering mobile device management in the cloud. AirWatch, Fiberlink and MobileIron already offer cloud-based solutions. But Afaria is the first that has been approved by Amazon Web Services

SAP also announced a partnership with mobile security vendor Mocana to offer the Mobile App Protection software by Mocana. It allows enterprises to use app-wrapping technology to secure existing corporate and third-party applications without having to write any code.

The IT department can customize policies that include authentication, encryption and per-app VPN to help protect data, according to SAP. The MAP software is compatible with Google's Android and Apple's iOS and can be used across managed and unmanaged devices, including those that employees bring to work. SAP didn't provide pricing.

PCW Evaluation Team

I would recommend this device for families and small businesses who want one safe place to store all their important digital content and a way to easily share it with friends, family, business partners, or customers.

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